How to Survive the Holidays - edited

 This is from author and nutritionist, Linda Spangle. I did about half of her 100 Day Challenge a couple of years ago and I also receive her e-mails.  After seeing part of this on a friend's blog (thank you, Flo!), I checked out the same e-mail she had received and found great suggestions on how to survive the holiday.   I decided to post them here as a reminder to me as I am going to try to follow several of her ideas.  I especially like #2 and #5!   After all, Christmas only comes once a year and it is a day to celebrate the true meaning of the season - rather than worry too much about the holiday treats, putting on weight, etc. Of course, I'd be happy to at least maintain but if I don't, I have no doubt that I will return to my journey and re-set my goals in the New Year!

 Here is the message I found in Linda's e-mail:

As the holiday season gets more hectic, all your good

intentions can start slipping away. Maybe you hoped to drop

another ten pounds before your work party, but the office

goodies kept that from happening.

Or you convinced yourself that you were NOT going to drink

rum-spiked eggnog this year, but suddenly, you’re enjoying a

second cup of it.

It’s a tough time of year to stick with your healthy eating

and exercise plans. But instead of giving up until after

January 1st, use these common sense ideas to adjust some of

your rules.

1. Quit worrying about water

Plan to drink four glasses of water a day. Of course, eight

is better, but four is enough to get you by. Plus, you won’t

have to go to the bathroom as often, so you’ll actually get

more done.

2. Exercise just a little.

Doing something is always better than doing nothing. So this

time of year, just do what you can fit into your schedule.

Remember to use the "Ten minute solution." Tell yourself

that you only have to exercise for 10 minutes, and after

that, you can quit.

Sometimes at the end of ten minutes, you’ll be relieved it’s

over and you’ll stop. But other times, you’ll feel better

and you might decide to keep going longer.

3. Eat everything!

Just take two bites of everything and savor the taste.

Decide whether it’s really phenomenal. If it’s to die for,

eat the whole thing and love it. But if it’s ordinary (like

a sugar cookie) or perhaps even mediocre, pitch the rest

into the trash. (Get over it! Of course you can throw food

away.)

4. Enjoy half a meal.

Eat half of what you want. Take half the serving amount you

normally would, then maybe even eat half of that. You’ll

keep the damage low but still have a good time.

5. Laugh every day

At least once each day, let go of your worries and the

demands on your life and do a strong belly laugh! It will

lighten your mood, relieve your stress and remind you that

this is a joyful time of year, not a serious one.

Personally, I love this time of the year!  This is my "wallpaper" on my computer as well as my "cover photo" on Facebook.  It's a photo of our family living room and it serves well to remind me of the serenity, warmth and peacefulness of the season.

Change is Good!

I don't think there is such a thing as "too much change".  In fact, I think it's good to change things up on a regular basis, especially if what one is doing is not bringing the results one would like to see.   The only real problem is if one stays in a rut and does nothing to get out of it!

For some time now, I have wanted to get off my medication - statins and blood pressure meds.   However, I have done absolutely nothing about it!   That, my friends, is about to change!  First on my list are the statins -  I plan to stop taking them - period!   I know I have a healthier lifestyle than I had when I was first put on them so I want to see how taking no statins effects my cholesterol levels with the healthier lifestyle I've adopted.  I know that the jury is out as to whether statins are really needed.   I have to say that when a friend of mine mentioned that she had taken herself off of statins, I began to think I should make the same change.  After all, I have been talking about getting off meds for way too long - now it's time to DO something about it!

Next, I will address my blood pressure meds.  I am going to try taking 1/2 a pill and check my blood pressure daily.   Eventually,  I hope to get down to NO PILLS.   We'll see how that goes...and, yes, I plan to share this with my doctor.

I am also working on changes in other areas, particularly in regard to my health.  While others may compete against others, I find I am my own best opponent...I prefer competing against myself!   For example, I have been afraid of overdoing it on the treadmill for fear of causing injury to my knees.  Yesterday,  I doubled what I normally do - two miles instead of one!  Today, I am feeling great - in fact, better than ever!   I am learning that it is when I remain inert that I tend to hurt the most - activity gets the blood flowing and builds up muscle - DUH!   That's not to say I'm going to run a  marathon - but daily activity is what I'm striving for!

UPDATE:

I did see my doctor today (a new doctor as I had not seen one since we moved here) and we discussed my desire to "wean" myself off of meds.  She will work with me though she did warn me that lifestyle changes may not do the trick if I am genetically disposed to high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure.  It turns out I already have a low doze of statins (10 mg) but my blood pressure meds is 100 mg.   I have her blessing to halve the BP medication and will take my blood pressure daily to see what effect it has.   Next week, I will go for blood tests  as I haven't had tests since last February.  We need a starting point as we decide what the to do with the statins.  I am anxious to make more changes in my diet even if it means planning my meal separately from the rest of the family.